It was the meeting after the meeting that took center stage at Hyde Park’s town hall on June 23. Following a monthly Town Board meeting that approved more than 20 resolutions, including one to adopt a town-wide property maintenance law and another to accept a construction bid for the new skate park, business owners from Hyde Park’s village district spoke out about the town’s reluctance to move forward with a sewer district.
Gus Serroukas, president of the Eveready Diner, was the first of many business owners to ask why the Town Board hasn’t voted to approve a sewer district, when over 60 percent of village property owners have petitioned for the service.
Pete Sassos, owner of Pete’s Famous Restaurant, echoed sentiments voiced by Serroukas. “I don’t know where we’re going with the sewer,” said Sassos. “It’s insane … it’s ridiculous.”
Developer Pierre Gagne has agreed to build a sewer treatment plant, at a cost of approximately $13 million, at the proposed mixed-used development, St. Andrews at Historic Hyde Park (also referred to as Edgewood). The town and Gagne appear to be involved in a “Catch 22” situation – since the sewer treatment plant is a mitigating factor in the plan’s development, Gagne doesn’t want to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) until he’s convinced the town will move forward and form a sewer district.
Several board members appear either opposed to or unsure of accepting Gagne’s offer. At the May 12 board meeting, board member Richard Perkins (I-4th Ward) said he would like to find a less expensive sewer system, and prefers more than one sewer system in town rather than a centralized sewer district running up and down Route 9; at that same meeting, board member Valerie Hail (D-2nd Ward) voiced concern over the St. Andrews project, citing impact on wetlands as well as overall size of the development and numerous revisions to the project’s plans.
Hail is the owner of Le Petit Chateau on Dorsey Lane, adjacent to the St. Andrews proposed development. She has previously voiced concern that excessive rock blasting and excavation at the St. Andrews site may deter customers from her bed and breakfast.
Supervisor Pompey Delafield (D) has often said the time is ripe to build a sewer system while Gagne is prepared to foot the bill for the treatment plan. At the May 12 meeting, Delafield urged the board to move along with sewer plan. “It is unfair for us to keep these things open for too long,” he said. “We do need to move forward on this project.”
A sewer, according to Sassos, is what Hyde Park needs in order to be competitive with nearby restaurants. “The C.I.A. is in competition with us,” he said. “You cannot bring in business without a sewer.” Sassos also asked the board to serve the interests of their constituents. “Think for everybody and don’t think as individuals,” he said.
Decades of planning
Park’s plans to bring a sewer are not new; discussions have been ongoing for more than 20 years. Bob Baxter, owner of Park Plaza in the village, has been involved with committees that have sought sewer service for over two decades. “Our group feels strongly that a sewer is the right move for this town,” he said.
Liz Roger, president of the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, reminded the board that property owners have passed a petition and it’s time for the town to move forward. “Give the property owners the chance to make a decision,” she said. “Sixty-five percent of property owners want a sewer district. I urge the Town Board to vote with the majority of property owners ¬ please do your due diligence and do what the town wants,” she urged.
Kelly Redl-Hardisty, another established business owner, said the town has been given a rare opportunity that it shouldn’t pass up. “When you hear about a sewer district coming and someone’s paying $13 million for the sewer plant, it’s a no-brainer,” she said. “I’m begging you people to go forward with this … it’s way overdue.”
Redl-Hardisty pointed out that economic development is the key to alleviating taxes and creating a town center for Hyde Park. “Hyde Park lacks an attractive, walking town center,” she said, adding that tour buses travel directly from the FDR Estate and Vanderbilt mansion up Route 9 to Rhinebeck rather than stay in Hyde Park. “Hyde Park does not look inviting,” said Redl-Hardisty. The town’s economic development plans, she said, include creating a denser town center to create a community within the commercial area. “A walkable community revitalizes Hyde Park, but will only come with a sewer,” she said.
Carol Lally-Metz, who previously sat on the town board representing Ward 2, also served on the town’s economic revitalization committee while in office and sees the sewer as an essential piece of the town’s economic pie. “Without a sewer, you can’t expand restaurants and you can’t compete with restaurants in other towns, and that’s a darn shame. Why would we even think of turning our back on business when we have an opportunity to help them?” she asked. “A right-headed town wants its business owners to be successful.”
Acknowledging that some board members may be concerned that a sewer will encourage swift commercial growth, Lally-Metz suggested the town adopt architectural standards to maintain Hyde Park’s historic character. “A sewer will not make Hyde Park worse than it was,” she said. “A sewer can enable a greater variety of business,” said Lally-Metz, adding that town board members “need to take the bird in the hand and vote for the sewer.” “It would be a huge mistake if we don’t pass the sewer,” she added.
Delafield assured business owners that their issues would be considered. “I’m sure you’ll be listened to by everybody up here,” he said. “Most of the facts are there, it’s a question of everybody feeling comfortable with them,” he added.
Business owners voiced their concern that unless action is taken soon to approve the sewer, Gagne will withdraw his offer. Pete Sassos urged the board to move forward before Gagne grows impatient and takes his St. Andrews project elsewhere. “We have to get somebody when he’s hot, otherwise, forget about it,” said Sassos.
Noreen Reilly, who previously served as Dutchess County Majority Leader representing Hyde Park, has also served on economic revitalization committees for many years and agreed with Sassos. “It’s been a couple of years; Mr. Gagne has been patient,” she said. “If we say ‘no sewer,’ than Gagne may not go forward. “It will be years before you get to this spot again,” she added.
Reilly cites a “lack of continuity on the board,” for the recent collapse of momentum for the sewer project. “I don’t think it’s intentional,” said Reilly, but she added that newer board members haven’t conducted years of research that would have provided them the background on costs and issues related to the sewer project. “It’s not that we know better, it’s that we have experience,” said Reilly, referring to herself and many others who have served for years on committees hoping to revitalize Hyde Park’s business district. Meanwhile, said Reilly, many village businesses are struggling to stay open in hopes that a sewer system will be built. “We’re not giving businesses the tools to work with,” she said. “When you come so close, it’s so frustrating,” she said.